Thomas Bridge 03 July 2015

Video reveals 12-month cat-and-mouse game between council and graffiti artist

A graffiti artist has filmed his year-long battle against council cleaning crews who scrubbed off his ‘experiment’ on an east London wall 11 times.

Street artist Mobstr noticed the wall in Hackney Wick where graffiti outside a red painted section was scrubbed off through a different technique to that on the un-painted brickwork.

This led Mobstr to spray the word ‘red’ on painted sections, with each phrase being replaced by another as council crews cleaned the wall.

The artist gradually inched the words towards the un-painted brickwork, before painting ‘red?’ and then ‘pressure wash?’ on sections devoid of the crimson hue.

Click here to watch the picture montage.

At one point Mobstr even highlighted a section of graffiti that hadn’t been cleaned off the wall by town hall employees, spraying ‘what about this?’ alongside a large arrow.

The council ultimately covered the entire wall with the scarlet tint, prompting a final farewell from Mobstr: ‘Well, that’s one way to end it. Thanks mate, it’s been fun.’

‘I cycled past this wall on the way to work for years, I noticed that graffiti painted within the red area was “buffed” with red paint. However, graffiti outside of the red area would be removed via pressure washing,’ Mobstr said.

‘This prompted the start of an experiment. Unlike other works, I was very uncertain as to what results it would yield.’

A Tower Hamlets Council spokesperson said: 'Graffiti clean up each year costs approximately £200,000, with this particular incident costing £600. Graffiti can reduce property value and depress economic development so removal is dealt with quickly and where possible, perpetrators are prosecuted by the police.

'The council is developing an anti-defacement policy that recognises that high quality street art can benefit our communities and enhance the general street scene.'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Director of Social Work and Social Care

Trafford Council
£100,731 to £104,625
You will join a values-driven senior leadership team, providing visible and responsive leadership. Manchester
Recuriter: Trafford Council

Housing Ombudsman

Housing Ombudsman Service
£130,095 per annum, negotiable based on experience.
The Housing Ombudsman Service allows colleagues to choose if they wish to work in the London office, from home or a hybrid of the two London (Greater)
Recuriter: Housing Ombudsman Service

SEND Engagement Facilitator

Essex County Council
£25821.00 - £30377.00 per annum
SEND Engagement FacilitatorFixed Term, Full Time£25,821 to £30,377 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Key Worker - Young Carers

Essex County Council
£25821.00 - £30377.00 per annum
Senior Key Worker - Young CarersPermanent, Full Time£25,821 to £30,377 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

CIPFA Trainee

Oxfordshire County Council
£31537 - £40777
You’re eager to build a career in public finance and committed to completing the CIPFA Level 7 Apprenticeship. You meet the eligibility criteria (including being under 22 years of age before studies commence, based on central government funding criteria Oxford
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council
Linkedin Banner